Rules Column: Patti Daskalos

Rules of the Game:

Has your ball moved?

Luke and Matty are playing a casual round of golf at their favorite golf course. On the fourth fairway, Luke is a few feet behind his ball, lining up his shot and taking a practice  swing. A big gust of wind blew down the fairway just as Luke starts the practice shot  downswing. Matty says, hey Luke, I think your ball moved . . .

To know what to do next, you will need to be familiar with several of the definitions in  the Rules of Golf:

1) Moved: The USGA Rules of Golf definition of moved is very different from any definition you would find in a dictionary. According to the Rules of Golf, for a ball  to have moved, it must leave its original spot and come to rest on another spot.  The movement needs to be able to be seen by the naked eye. But keep in mind  that no one has to see the movement. This may seem contradictory in the  definition, but it simply means no one must see your ball move to the new location. For example, your ball is on a slope in the general area near a penalty  area. You walk up to the green to pick a landing location. When you return to  your ball, it’s now sitting just inside the red line defining the penalty area. No one  saw your ball move into the penalty area, but it is known or virtually certain that your ball moved  from the general area to the penalty area. Also keep in  mind that the definition of moved includes up, down, or horizontal movement.

If  your ball is at rest in a fir tree, and the ball drops directly down from a higher  branch to a lower branch, that ball has moved. A ball that wiggles, or oscillates that stays on its spot, or returns to its original location, has NOT moved. If the ball has moved, then a player needs to determine what caused the ball to move.

In the example above it is known or virtual certainty that the ball that moved  from the general area to the penalty area           moved  based on the penalty area markings. However, a player’s ball at rest is treated as moved only if it is known or virtually certain that it did move.

2) Known or Virtually Certainty: This is the standard for helping players decide (among other things) if a player’s ball has indeed moved. When determining knowledge or virtual certainty, the player needs to assess if there is conclusive evidence that the ball moved. Maybe another player or spectator saw the ball move.  Known or virtually certain also means that there is a very small degree of doubt, and that all gathered information makes the player (or rules official) conclude that it is at least 95% likely that the ball did move.

Luke and Matty gathered all the evidence and have determined through knowledge or virtual certainty that the ball did move. Now, Matty and Luke need to figure out what ​caused the ball to move. Determining what caused the ball to move tells the player whether they play the ball as it lies or replace the ball on its original spot. According to The Rules of Golf, there are four possible causes for a ball at rest to move: Natural Forces, the player or player’s caddie actions, an opponent’s actions, or an outside influence. Again, let’s revisit some definitions pertaining to a ball moving.

3) Natural Forces are the effects of nature such as water, wind, or something that happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity.

4) Outside Influences are any of the following that can affect what happens to a player’s ball:

a. Any person—including another player— except for the player, player’s caddie, player’s partner, or opponent or any of their caddies.

b. Any animal.

c. Any natural or artificial object (even another ball in motion).

BUT any natural force, or artificially propelled air or water (like from a sprinkler, irrigation bubbler, or fan-propelled air) are NOT outside influences.

Next month we will continue with Matty and Luke- and figure out how Luke should continue their conversation on the ball moving.